The Pageantry, Glitter and Mickey Mouse
by James Banzer

   When strolling along Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, it’s pretty easy to separate the pedestrians who are the locals from those who are the visitors. Locals walk straight ahead looking weird with their long spiked hair extensions that poke a foot or two up above their heads. Tinseltown attracts those people who come from someplace else then assimilate into world of glitter and glamour. The visitors gaze down at the sidewalk. They want to see what names are recognizable among the stars and entertainment world luminaries of past and present. 

   So as a fourth-time visitor to the Los Angeles area, that’s what I was doing when I spotted the star of one of the all-time movie greats. The Mickey Mouse star is in front of the famed Grumman’s Chinese Theater. I had seen that star before. As a young couple, Anh and I traveled to Los Angeles in 1984 with our then 1-and-a-half year old daughter. One of the lingering cute Kodachrome moments that we captured was that of our first-born as she stood on that star.

   Now Michelle was back in Hollywood, this time representing the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant was being held at the Kodak Theater, which had not existed when Michelle had been in Hollywood the first time. The Kodak is next door to Grumman’s Chinese Theater. Call that irony if you will. She had traveled many miles to get there. There were four attempts at winning the Miss Kentucky USA competition, the fourth time being a success. In between the first pageant and the Miss USA contest, there had been many other pageants, some won and some lost. 

   Michelle’s dream of getting to the Miss USA pageant was realized, but hopes of being the big winner did not materialize. In the subjective world of pageantry, one never knows who will do well and who won’t wear the tiara. As the 15 names of finalists in the pageant were called off, that of Michelle Banzer was not one of them. In the Miss Universe system, only one appearance at the Miss USA pageant is allowed. So she will never compete again for the title.

   Mom and dad consider Michelle a big winner though. We know how hard she fought to see her dream of being in the national pageant turn into reality. She lived the dream day after day, and finally got to where she wanted to be. When the March 23, 2007 live television event at the beautiful Kodak took place, we were her biggest cheerers. At the beginning of the show, as the video presentations introduced each of young ladies, a chill ran through us as she said, “Michelle Banzer, 24, Louisville, Kentucky.”

   Michelle had bags packed and ready before the night of the pageant. She was prepared to fly off to New York to live for a year at Trump Tower, which is named for Miss Universe organization co-owner Donald Trump. She was also prepared to ride back with us on the long 2,100 mile journey to Kentucky. She had decided before the pageant that she would not hang around for another night at the Wilshire Grand Hotel. She attended a reception that was held for pageant participants, talked to sister pageant participants, and then loaded her belongings in the car for her return to Kentucky. 

   Miles down the road, I suddenly thought of something. It is a big regret for me that I didn’t get a picture of our 24-year-old beauty standing on that Mickey Mouse star. She had better have her digital camera with her the next time she visits Los Angeles!

041207  

Archive
__________________________________________________________

James Banzer has enjoyed a long career in broadcast news and is now writing on his observations about the world around us. He is currently residing in Louisville, Kentucky. You may send an e-mail to him at  jamesbanzer@yahoo.com .